Meanwhile, back at the Lab…

After we got back from hiking the trail to the actual dig site of the dinosaur that was first discovered in New Mexico back in the 1800’s, we got to check out what I’m calling the lab where the paleontologist was busy working away excavating the ceolophysis and another dinosaur from their burial site in a block of ground.

Ceolophysis Skull

Alex, the paleontologist, showed us a skull of a Ceolophysis that he had already excavated, as well as one still in the ground (viewed thru a magnifying glass to see the teeth up close).  Check out those teeth!  Scientists believe that the Ceolophysis was a carnivore, and those teeth were probably what helped them arrive at that conclusion!

Back of Ceolophysis Skull

This is the same skull, just flipped over so we’re sort of seeing the back (or “wrong”) side of its skull.  You can see its teeth are pretty much intact on this side as well.

Three Ceolophysis Skulls

Now, we’re looking at 3 Ceolophysis skulls, still in the ground.  It’s hard to see them, so I lightened the area where they are all sort of laying on top of one another.  I’ve also numbered them to make it easier.  Numbers 1 & 2 are laying sideways, so you can actually see their jaws open.  The 3^rd one is a little tricky.  He’s laying with his “chin”, so to speak, on the ground, so you’re actually looking at the top of his head.  Of course, neither Jeff nor I would have spotted any of these if Alex hadn’t pointed them out to us!!

Only Complete Dinosaur Skeleton

This is NOT a Ceolophysis, but neither Jeff nor I can remember the name of this guy – darn!  Still, he is kind of interesting.  The drawing that we saw of this guy shows that he looked like kind of a cross between an alligator and a lizard.  His body looked more like a lizard, but the tail really looked like an alligator’s.  I’ve also highlighted his skeleton.  Also, what look like scales were actually rather soft and kind of fuzzy.  The head has already been excavated, and is in a drawer, wrapped protectively.  We did get to see it, but no touching!  The remarkable thing about this fossil is that this is the ONLY complete skeleton of this dinosaur in the world!  I guess this dinosaur has been found throughout the world, but no one has a complete skeleton except the Ghost Ranch Paleontology Museum in New Mexico!

Enjoy!